M4CE eyes Kawambwa

…UPND electoral shenanigans worry Retired Colonel Rasheed Chesambo Mbewe

M4CE eyes Kawambwa

…sacrificing dinosaur ‘ageing’ generation – passing leadership baton to youths

By Helen Bwalya and Fulman Mukobeko

In a quest to pass leadership roles to youths, Movement for Change and Equality (M4CE) has successfully adopted and nominated a 29-year-old Peter Bwalya as its Kawambwa Parliamentary by-election candidate on Friday 20th December 2024 as confirmed by Electoral Commission Zambia (ECZ) Returning Officer, Golden Siwila.

Youthful Bwalya is competing against four aspirants; Danstan Mwansa, under Peter Chanda’s New Congress Party, Kennedy Kapambwe of Dr. Fred M’membe’s Socialist Party (SP), with Hakainde Sammy Hichilema’s United Party for National Development (UPND) fielding Nason Musonda, and 44-year-old Kennedy Chomba vying on Charles Chanda’s United Peaceful and Prosperous Zambia (UPPZ), whose out is to be determined by 27, 885 voters.

Meanwhile, M4CE General Secretary (Gen. Sec.) Colonel Rasheed Chesambo Mbewe (RTD) cried foul over alleged electoral malpractices brewing in Kawambwa ahead of the by-election though he is yet to write an official complaint to Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) should ‘electoral shenanigans’ persist.

“We have empirical evidence of truck loads of meliemeal, and Chitenge regalia are being ferried into Kawambwa by the ruling UPND and we shall petition the results of the election if this continues. We are confident of winning once the poll is held in a credible, fair and free environment,” warned an optimistic Col. Mbewe (RTD).

Col. Mbewe (RTD) advised his M4CE foot soldiers and members to stay vigilant, stay away from violence, report all intimidation and provocation to relevant authorities.

In an interview, after successfully filing, M4CE President Kaluba Musenda Simuyemba and Col. Mbewe (RTD) insisted that time for young people to take up leadership is now.

A tart Simuyemba reiterated a vow to sacrifice the ageing population with increased focus on embracing young people as leaders.

While teasingly describing the ageing ‘Northern Rhodesians’ as dinosaur’s, Col. Mbewe (RTD) said his agemates must prioritise practical mentorship of young leaders.

On his part, Bwalya, the M4CE candidate for the Kawambwa by-election, is confident on winning the seat.

The 29-year-old candidate is determined to bring development to the constituency, citing the poor road network and lack of basic amenities like electricity, tap water, and flushable toilets.

The by-election is scheduled to take place on Friday 20th December, 2024, following the incarceration of incumbent Member of Parliament Nickson Chilangwa, previously Luapula Province Minister.

Bwalya has already successfully toured the constituency and is optimistic about his chances of winning.

Bwalya plans to work closely with local authorities to improve the infrastructure and living conditions in Kawambwa District.

The Kawambwa by- election arose after Chilangwa was jailed for five (5) years by Resident Margistrate Martin Namushi on Tuesday 23rd July 2024.

However, Resident Magistrate Namushi could not sentence Pambeshe MP Ronald Chitotela as arson sentencing is only dealt with at the High Court.

Others found guilty in the case include Kalumba Chifumbe and Davy Kaniki, who have both been sentenced to five years imprisonment for malicious damage to property.

The charges against Mr. Chitotela, Mr. Chilangwa, and their co-accused stem from an incident during the Thursday 12th August 2021 General Election, where they were accused of burning a Mahindra vehicle belonging to the UPND Luapula Youth Committee.

Before the poll, Chilangwa and four others were denied bail pending appeal by the Kabwe High Court as being a Member of Parliament is not an exceptional circumstance warranting Mr. Chilangwa to be granted bail pending appeal.